There was also a worry about a sort of Murrayfield Groundhog Day after only six minutes when flanker Mauro Bergamasco was too sharp leaving a scrum on the Italian 22 and Paterson made a fearful hash of the attempted penalty.

Besides, despite his Groundhog Day on Wednesday, the Prime Minister can take solace from one of the factors that so cheered him until then: the continued lack of serious opposition from the Conservatives.

It has been well said that every Test match morning is Groundhog Day for this England side.